National Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula presented progress on the rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO). He indicated that AARTO is set to be introduced in four phases, culminating in the coming online of the points demerit system (PDS) on July 2022.
He also announced that when implementing the Bill, the demerit points system will also be implemented.
AARTO will penalise drivers and fleet operators who are guilty of traffic offences or infringements by imposing demerit points that could lead to the suspension or cancellation of licences, professional driving permits or operator cards.
The Minister further indicated that "over the medium term, we have allocated to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) R545 million to fund the rollout. R215 million has been allocated for the current financial year". It will resume with the staggered rollout.
According to the Agency, all motorists will start at 0 (zero) once the Points Demerit System is implemented. Demerit points will be accumulated if a motorist commits traffic violations. Similarly, when violations are not committed, they will be rewarded with a reduction of 1 point every three months if they have demerit points. When one is back at zero points, there is no further reward because they are displaying good behaviour.
In practical terms, the infringer will be able to redeem all the points in a period of 3 years. As long as one is not over the 15 demerit threshold, they will be able to drive. When one is above 15 demerit points, the driving licence gets suspended for 3 months for every point over 15.
Referring to habitual infringers on the road, Minister Mbalula said "the demerit point system will provide for an easy and objective mechanism of identifying habitual infringers so that the applicable penalties can be imposed".
He also indicated that "at the current rate at which road crashes and fatalities are experienced, road fatalities would become the leading cause of premature death throughout the world if no urgent, fundamental interventions are made. With AARTO, our country can reverse this trend".
AARTO was never designed to be a punitive system, said the minister.
For more, visit http://www.rtia.co.za/